Are you also one of those who are fond of curbing their hunger with a grab-and-go protein bar?
Do you think eating a protein bar is a healthy alternative to your regular meal?
You may be right, and you may be wrong!
Whether a protein bar benefits you depends on many factors.
A protein bar was considered a very healthy snack until recently when the internet flooded with research claiming that protein bars may not be as healthy as they are marketed to be.
A good deal of health-conscious people got confused about whether they should continue their protein-rich diet with the help of protein bars or not!
However, with time, there is now enough research to make you understand the pros and cons of a protein bar and how it should be consumed to make the most out of it.
Studies and research have also helped people understand which protein bars they should choose to accord to their body requirements.
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Do protein bars make you gain or lose weight?
Protein bars have been popularly used as diet snacks by people looking to lose weight.
The same goes for people wanting to put on weight.
So what do they actually do?
It can help you to both gain and lose weight. How it is consumed determines its function.
Protein bars are available in a lot of variety, with many brands marketing their protein bar as the healthiest and safest option.
Truth be told, only a few protein bars are actually healthy for consumption.
Many protein bars are so high in calories that you are better off eating a Big Mac than munching on a protein bar!
Many protein bars are packed with unhealthy sweeteners like fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils like canola, palm, or soybean.
These will increase your intake of unhealthy fats and adversely affect your health.
However, healthier options include nuts, seeds, and protein supplements like egg powder and natural sweeteners to add flavor.
They are a healthy choice you can make for replacing a meal or an on-the-go snack, but that too needs to be done in moderation and should not exceed the daily limit of protein intake.
Will a protein bar make you gain weight?
A “protein bar” may sound very healthy because you find the name of an essential nutrient in it, and only on that basis, your conscious mind grabs one every time you feel hungry!
After a week or two, you felt your clothes shrink, and then you decide to get your weight checked.
That is when you will get shocked seeing the increased number representing your increased weight!
But you were eating very healthy, right?
If you were eating the protein bar to gain weight, the weight gain would come as a pleasant surprise, but if it is the other way round, it would be alarming.
Protein bars are healthy, but they are calorie-dense snacks, and eating them along with your meals and no, or very light, exercise can lead you to gain weight.
To determine your calorie intake, you must look up the nutritional information on the protein bar you eat.
If you wish to gain weight, then eating multiple protein bars will be beneficial for you as it will help you gain weight.
But, if you are on your weight loss journey, having a calorie-deficit diet is necessary. Your intake of calories must be less than your required calories for weight loss.
Taking only the recommended portion of protein daily will help you lose weight.
Studies show that increased dietary protein consumption can lead to obesity and many other diseases and health issues.
Are protein bars good for fat loss?
A protein-rich diet is a popular diet for losing weight. Research also supports that increasing protein intake can help you lose fat effectively.
A high-protein diet is an effective way of losing weight by increasing the body’s metabolism.
As the metabolism increases, the fat-burning process also increases and helps you lose weight much faster.
High-protein foods are more filling, help you stay full for longer, and take in fewer calories throughout the day.
Lesser calorie intake promotes weight loss.
Adding to how to lose weight by eating protein bars, research shows that a high-protein breakfast can suppress hunger hormones and help you stay full and eat less.
Having a high-protein diet not only helps in losing weight but adds many benefits to your health like reducing heart diseases, lowering blood pressure, increasing and repairing muscle mass and bone health, and improving overall body condition.
Is it okay to eat a protein bar every day?
No matter how nutritious the food is, eating it in excess can bring more harm than good.
That said, protein bars produced with the right ingredients are healthy and can be eaten daily if your body and health conditions allow.
A protein bar can serve as an excellent grab-and-go breakfast if you are in a hurry or looking for something to give you instant energy after a tiring workout.
But that does not mean you can have protein bars regularly without monitoring your body’s needs.
Protein bars do not just give your body the recommended protein level, but they come with many other nutrients, fats, and sugars that your body might not need.
So, it is imperative to review the ingredients thoroughly, and check the nutritional information written on your protein bar to ensure you only take in what is healthy and suitable for your body.
Eating a protein bar regularly will not affect you adversely if the calorie intake and recommended nutrition levels do not exceed.
Research thoroughly, make the right decision in choosing your protein bar, and make your life easy and healthy.
